Month: December 2015

I hope to grow to be a more knowledgable, obedient, set apart lover and follower of Jesus.

I want to play an instrument I enjoy. I don’t know what that is, yet, but it’s nothing I’ve dabbled in so far.

I want to be a disciplined student of The Word who memorizes books of scripture.

I want to be the woman to whom no one bothers to gossip, because they know it will fall on deaf ears.

I want to do art all the time. It’s a luxury, I know, but it breathes life into me.

I will continue to pray for more patience; and I want to grow in the discipline to fight the first knee-jerk reactions of irritation or defensiveness that easily influence my heart. This includes my critical attitude toward others.

I want to be secure enough in my identity in Christ that I am a refreshment to others. I don’t want to be an insecure person people must reassure, I don’t want to project my fears onto others, I just want to be calm and confident enough to “get over myself” and focus on others.

I want to experience the strength and freedom that come from taking good care of my body by exercising and eating healthy foods. I don’t want to choose these things over more important things and I don’t want to idolize them, but I do want to treat my body as a temple.

I want to say, “Yes!” to adventures. I am a homebody at heart, but I want to travel with my husband and try new things because he would love it.

I want to read again. I used to do it voraciously. As responsibilities have piled up, I have pushed it to the side. I read a bit of non-fiction, but fiction grows my heart.

I want to invite people into my home all the time, both friends and strangers.

I want to house someone who the Lord gives us who has no place to go; I want to be able to share our blessings with those who need it rather than keeping them to ourselves.

I want to learn to cook a few meals that make people grin when they take a bite.

I want to be a mother to someone who doesn’t have one. I don’t know if this will look like fostering a child or mentoring someone younger, but I know nurturing and encouraging are two of my gifts. I know that Lord created me to love a little more fiercely and to empathize more heartily than some. But these gifts are useless in the form of hands-off, far-away pity.

I want to boldly speak up for the downtrodden and meek when it’s unpopular to do so. From refugees to children to marginalized groups.

I want to make peace with my darker skin, shake off the negative feelings I’ve caught from our lost, silly culture, and believe without a doubt that I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

I want to look at my physical flaws, shrug, and move on.

I want my husband to be able to say that I supported him in his dreams and callings.

I know I thrive in a supporting role; I want to embrace being the organizer, the facilitator, the quiet helper in the background, and the helper, because it’s where I thrive. I don’t want to long for the spotlight because others thrive there.

I want to work hard with my hands. I want to fold our laundry, can produce, make meals, make repairs, lift children, and scrub floors.

I want to love people just as they are, in spite of their flaws, but then I want to encourage them to grow, because I believe that’s a more loving, authentic friendship.

I want to be so consumed with how scripture, sermons, and rebukes apply to me that I don’t even think of who else needs to hear it.

I want to go to the beach as much as possible because seeing the ocean makes me cry.

I hope to continue to be unable to finish reading many children’s stories aloud without crying, because I always want to be moved by the goodness and kindness they often depict.

I want all who see me to have no doubts in their ability to say, “That is a woman who loves her church/her nation/her pastor/her husband/her children/her state, her family/her friends.” Not blindly, not naively, but wholeheartedly.

I want to be a teacher who consistently builds children up and never tears them down. I want to humanize, inspire, and celebrate each of my students.